Dr. Paula Frantz moves to Colorado Plains Physicians Practices

Former DOC health chief comes back to roots

Dr. Paula Frantz, holding the scissors, celebrates her new job as the primary care doctor for Colorado Plains Physicians Practices with a ribbon-cutting ceremony with the Logan County Chamber of Commerce.
(David Martinez/Journal-Advocate)

STERLING -- Dr. Paula Frantz isn't new to northeast Colorado -- she's lived in the same house outside of Fleming for the past 18 years. But for many of her patients and coworkers, old and new, her face will become much more familiar this year.

Three weeks ago Frantz became the newest physician at Colorado Plains Physicians Practices after stepping down from a relatively larger role as the acting chief medical officer for the Colorado Department of Corrections.

The Logan County Chamber of Commerce welcomed Frantz with more than a dozen others among hors d'oeuvres Tuesday at the Colorado Plains office next to the Sterling Pizza Hut on W. Main Street.

"It's more of a shift in responsibility," said the group's new primary care doctor, who argued that her new role wasn't any more important than her old one.

Frantz said she wanted to get back into direct patient care, which is something she couldn't focus on in her position with the DOC.

When she started working at the Sterling Regional MedCenter's Family Care Clinic 18 yeas ago, she had more time to focus on individuals. Within a year she had started working as an emergency room doctor -- a position she held for nearly nine years.

That's when she moved on to the Sterling Correctional Facility, where she worked as a physician for about three years before moving up her last position as the chief medical officer.

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In that role, she switched from working with single patient treatment to supervising the healthcare services offered at 20 facilities statewide.

In her new role she'll work 10 hours a day, Monday through Friday, and have an assistant to help her with her care, which she admits she's still getting used to.

Frantz has already seen little successes, such as a steady increase in patients coming to see her. Many of her previous patients are coming back to her, as well, and have talked her up through word of mouth. And she said she's been impressed with Colorado Plains, which has made the transition easier.

But one of the biggest benefits to her newer, more local role, she says, is the extra time she'll get to spend with her daughter. The 16-year-old had told her mother she wanted her around more.

"Not many parents get a chance to hear that from their teenager," Frantz said.

RE-1 Valley School District has announced its policy for determining eligibility of children who may receive free and reduced price meals served under the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Program.
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